Doctors told the couple to prepare for the worst when baby Hugo had to undergo surgery but he pulled through and 11 weeks later he is rapidly gaining weight and making great progress.

Mrs Smith gave birth to Hugo in Scarborough Hospital by emergency caesarean section.

The couple then had a five-hour wait before they could see their son.

Because he was so tiny, he was transferred to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough where his condition became more critical and he was diagnosed with a tracheo-oesophageal fistula.

This meant his oesophagus was connected to his windpipe, so every time Hugo took a breath the air he was breathing in got trapped in his stomach and the contents of his stomach, the stomach acid, went into his lungs.

He needed life-saving surgery and was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Mr and Mrs Smith spent just 10 minutes with him before he was taken to Newcastle and, as they waited for transport, surgeons phoned to explain the operation Hugo needed and to ask for permission to do it.

Mrs Smith, who is acting manager at Nursery Rhymes, in Cardigan Road, said: "We were told not to expect Hugo to survive.

"We had only spent a matter of minutes with our newborn baby son and we were already close to losing him."

Hugo, who is the couple's first child, is now going from strength to strength and weighs more than 7lb.

However he needs another operation at the end of August on his oesophagus. Mrs Smith said: "That will then need to heal and he will have to learn how to feed because at the moment he has a tube which just goes straight into his stomach."

Hugo has also had a hernia operation and has been diagnosed with a hole in his heart but it is hoped the hole will close by itself.

The couple have spent the past 11 weeks at Crawford House, The Sick Children's Trust "Home from Home" at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

They have been staying at the house for free and the couple are extremely grateful because without the charity they would have not been able to be near their son.

Mrs Smith, who had a normal pregnancy until going into early labour, said: "I was still recovering from having the caesarean so I couldn't have been more grateful.

"Our baby son needs us with him at all times but our family home is miles away from Newcastle so we have been staying in Crawford House since Hugo was admitted 11 weeks ago.

"In all honesty I don't know how we would have coped without it.
"My husband Dan has been able to transfer his job with Tesco to a local store and works five nights each week.

"It's essential he keeps working because even in this difficult situation we still have bills to pay at home."

Mr and Mrs Smith expect to stay at Crawford House for the next couple of months but are looking forward to coming home.

Family and friends have been to visit and have noticed an improvement in Hugo.

But Mrs Smith said she would not return to the family home in Bridlington without him.

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